Where the Nurses are Pretty and the Doctors are Pissed

When I think of Groucho Marx I think of cigars and animal crackers and nights at the opera. He also wrote fine letters to people he admired such as T S Eliot

November 1, 1963

Dear Tom

Since you are actually an early American, (I don’t mean you are an old piece of furniture but you are a fugitive from St Louis), you should have heard of Tom Gibbons. For your edification, Tom Gibbons was a native of Minnesota which is only a stone’s throw from Missouri. That is, if the stone is encased in a missile. Tom was, at one time, the light-heavyweight champion of the world.

The name Tom fits many things. There was once a famous Jewish actor named Thomashevsky. All male cats are named Tom – unless they have been fixed. In that case they are just neutral and, as the upheaval in Saigon has just proved, there is no place any more for neutrals.

I have just finished my latest opus, “Memoirs of a Mangy Lover.” Most of it is autobiographical and very little of it is fiction. I doubt whether it will live through the ages, but if you are in a sexy mood the night you read it, it may stimulate you beyond recognition and rekindle memories that you haven’t recalled in years.

Ah! The very clever, funny and oh-so-sharp Groucho. Did you know he was good friends with Alice (the black eye makeup)Cooper? Definitely worth a bit of Nursie research!
An old friend of mine used to go out with Harpo and play naughty no-speaky tricks!(Harpo was not mute.)

I love Groucho! What an awesome letter! If I ever wrote a letter to T.S. Elliot (not that I ever would have), I would be so self conscious about my writing that it would be horrible and stilted. Elliot would read a sentence and then throw it in the garbage. Groucho was so cool.

I can only find a reply dated 3 June 1964 so there may have been some correspondence not published

“Dear Groucho
We have arranged a car to collect you and Mrs Groucho on Saturday from the Savoy, we look forward to seeing you both with the greatest of pleasure.
The picture of you in the newspapers saying that, amongst other reasons, you have come to London to see me has greatly enhanced my credit in the neighbourhood, and particularly with the greengrocer across the street. Obviously I am now someone of importance.
Ever yours,
Tom”